If you were on a first date and the successful, swagalicious man you met on Soul Swipe said, "Am I ever gonna get remarried? I don't think so. Yeah, I don't think so. Marriage is an institution of sorts and I've done it. It's not for everybody. It's not my life's calling," what would you do? Tell the truth and shame the devil, ladies. Would you run for the hills so he … [Read more...]
5 Things You Could be Doing with Your Money Other than Having a Pricey Wedding
Your wedding day is a BIG day. I get it. When I got married, over eight years ago, I wanted everything to be perfect. I dreamed about that day for years. And as someone who didn’t grow up knowing any happily married couples (and hardly any married couples to be honest), I was determined to make my wedding pretty magical. And it was. I don’t have a single complaint about … [Read more...]
Money Monday: The Average Wedding Approaches $33,000. Is It Worth It?
Getting married is becoming more expensive than ever. That’s the conclusion of The Knot 2015 Real Weddings Study conducted by the wedding planning website TheKnot.com. According to the study, couples spent, on average, $32,641 for a wedding in 2015. This represents an all-time high for wedding spending. Worst yet, the figure doesn’t even include the cost of a … [Read more...]
3 Ways to Make Sure Your Marriage Lasts After the Wedding
I recently attended a beautiful wedding. It reminded me how nice a wedding can be without stressing over so many of the elaborate details. As a groom, I had to remember the day is essentially all about the bride, but we can work together to keep the day as stress free and financially sound as possible. Here are some tips on how to minimize wedding stress: If you can’t pay … [Read more...]
Wedding Weight Gain? The Struggle is Real But Here’s a Straightforward Solution
Wedding season is just about over. Thousands of brides jumped the broom this past spring and summer and are presumably settling into the routine of life with their new hubbies. Well, that same thing happened to me three and half years ago. And my waistline has never recovered. I didn’t notice it until two of my co-workers asked me “So, Simone, are you still running?” I … [Read more...]
5 Tips on Choosing the Perfect Bridesmaids that Will Keep Your Wedding Drama-Free
By: Dwayna Clark My beautiful twin sister asked me to be the maid of honor for her big day and I was more than happy to take on the role. After all was said and done, I understand why being chosen as the maid of honor is a big deal. This role takes on a huge responsibility and can be a stressful experience. The maid of honor has many duties which consist of and taking … [Read more...]
Why Should I Get Married!? 13 Signs You Might Not Be Ready For Marriage
WARNING: Some of you may question getting married or why you ever got married once you read this! Often we find out the hard way that a lot that happens in a marriage is on the job training. However, there are still quite a few things that we can learn before we say” I do!” With marriage being such a paramount decision that affects so much of our lives, you would think … [Read more...]
3 Types of Men Who Are Not Going to Marry You
Ladies, ladies, ladies. Marriage is a goal for most of us because we want to share our lives with that special man of our own and raise a family together. Unfortunately not all men want to get married. To tell the truth not all women want it either. But if you want to get married and are currently in a relationship, the following three types of men are probably wasting … [Read more...]
How Young is too Young to Say, “I do?” Click Here to Find Out
Ask a married person their opinion about age and marriage and you will get a wide range of responses. Some will tell you that getting married before 30 is a bad idea because people should have some clarity about who they are before they jump the broom. Others might share how they got married when they were 22 and they are happily married 20 years later so age shouldn’t be a … [Read more...]
Learn From My Mistake: The One Foolish Decision that Almost Compromised the Marriage I Wanted
The most memorable moment of my life was underway. It is my wedding day, and everyone who has played a major role in my life and my wife’s life were sitting before us. The music begins to play and she proceeds down the aisle with her Father. Now, most men are staring at their bride some, even crying. I actually had a flash back to the life changing experience I had with God … [Read more...]
3 Reasons You Should Pump the Brakes on Your Wedding Plans
You have met the love of your life and now you are planning your dream wedding. Maybe it’s something small and quaint, or maybe you decided to go the big and extravagant route. Whatever your plans are for your special day, you think you are ready to tie the knot and say “I do” to the person you want spend the rest of your life with. In the midst of planning for your big day, … [Read more...]
Make Your Marriage Last, Make Your Wedding Inexpensive
In 1988, Keith Sweat produced a hit record “Make It Last Forever”. Not only was the song a hit in the African American community but it had crossover appeal. “Make It Last Forever” reached #59 on the Billboard Hot 100 List. While the song will never be remembered for being lyrically extraordinary, it was remarkably profound. The song was so appealing because it provided a … [Read more...]
The One Thing I Wish I Had Done Before I Got Married
I’ve heard it said that most people prepare more for their wedding than they do for their marriage. In my case, I’d have to say it was true. Weddings are usually exciting, fun-filled events that get everyone caught up—so much so that, often, we don’t take a minute to stop and think about what happens after the honeymoon. I got married at 23. I had just finished college the … [Read more...]
Trip to the Altar: My Future Husband Was Already Married
Man makes plans. God laughs. I can't tell you how many times I THOUGHT I knew who my future husband would be. I heard this saying when I was single and found it to be true; "It's the person you least expect it to be." It sure was, because my future husband was already married. After experiencing my first heartbreak, I was sure I'd meet my husband at college. It just made … [Read more...]
Are You Planning for a Wedding or a Marriage?
People put an exorbitant amount of time, energy and money into planning their perfect wedding: The perfect flowers, the perfect dress, the perfect location(s), the perfect rings, the perfect hairdo, the perfect honeymoon, even the perfect people in terms of imagery (looks, size, hair and sadly, even skin tone) in order to capture what they might consider the perfect wedding … [Read more...]